NFL.COM:
OVERVIEW
Married. Last name is pronounced "ab-bruh-DAIR-is." Was a high school quarterback and defensive back in Wisconsin, where he won a state championship, wrestled and was the Gatorade track athlete of the year. Walked on and redshirted in 2009, working as a scout team spread quarterback. Earned a scholarship in '10 before playing all 13 games (two starts) and recording 20 receptions for 289 yards (14.4-yard average) and three touchdowns. Started all 14 games in '11 and posted 55-933-8 (17.0). Broke a bone in his left foot against South Dakota in Week Four -- was not diagnosed until after the season and he sat out '12 spring practice. In the fall, started 12-of-13 games and caught 49-837-5 (17.1). Sustained a concussion against Oregon State and did not play against Utah State. Also sustained a concussion against Penn State. Started 12-of-13 games in '13, totaling 78-1,081-7 (13.9) with six rushes for 119 yards (19.8) and two touchdowns. Did not start against Indiana (ribs). Did not play in the Senior Bowl (hamstring). Also returned 55 career punts for 587 yards (10.7), including a score, and 31 career kickoffs for 800 yards (25.8). Burlsworth Trophy winner as nation's best player to begin his career as a walk-on.
ANALYSIS:
STRENGTHS:
Uses his hands well to swat away press. Stems his routes. Sells his patterns. Nice hands. Good field and boundary awareness. Gives effort to engage and shield cornerbacks as a blocker. Outstanding football intelligence -- like a quarterback on the outside. Productive three-year starter. Mature and humble. Hardworking and coachable. Carved up Ohio State CB Bradley Roby to the tune of 10-207-1.
WEAKNESSES:
Has a slender build and needs to bulk up and get stronger. Ordinary pop off the line. Builds to average speed. Could struggle to separate vs. quick-twitch covermen. Lets throws into his body and breaks stride to catch. Not a jumpball player (30 1/2-inch vertical jump). Straightlinish after the catch -- pedestrian agility and elusiveness. Has a history of concussions. Bench-pressed 225 pounds just four times, lowest of all combine participants.
DRAFT PROJECTION:
Rounds 4-5
BOTTOM LINE:
A former walk-on, Abbrederis went from afterthought to scholarship player to No. 1 receiver. While the blue-collar overachiever lacks exceptional athletic traits for the NFL, he's a steady "X" receiver whose hands and smarts could enable him to work his way into a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver role.
CBS.COM:
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS: Sneaky speed with long strides to get behind the secondary...smooth movements with stutter-and-go burst and body lean to create separation - smart and savvy route runner, setting up defenders and making it easy on his QB...good footwork in/out of his breaks, getting open and working back to the ball...natural body control and tracks the ball very well in the air, making proper adjustments...quick hands and focus to handle fastballs and highpoint away from his frame to finish...excellent field awareness and always knows where the sticks are.
Tough runner who won't shy from contact or go down easily, catching the ball well in stride...superb blocking effort on the perimeter and down the field...very high football character and work ethic with a motivated, goal-oriented attitude to exceed expectations - type of guy who will run through a wall for his team...good vision on ST returns and holds school-record for KR career average (25.8) - one ST score on a PR...very productive as a three-year starter (39 career starts) and leaves Madison tied for the school's all-time reception mark (202) and second in receiving yards (3,140) behind Lee Evans - two-time consensus All-Big Ten First Teamer.
WEAKNESSES: Average height with a lean, skinny build...little muscle definition and lacks an ideal body type - allergic to the weight room and needs to get stronger to better match up in the NFL...lacks quick-twitch athleticism and not as productive vs. jams and physical man coverage...will have some focus drops and uses his body too much, unnecessarily jumping at times...needs to protect the ball better on returns or after the catch...grabby as a blocker and attract holding calls...questionable durability with several concussions over his career and other minor injuries that caused him to miss playing time -tough and plays through pain, but banged up easily.
--Dane Brugler
PLAYER OVERVIEW
A high school QB, Abbrederis didn't receive much attention as a recruit and walked on at Wisconsin, redshirting in 2009 and playing the role of a spread QB on the scout team.
He worked his way onto the field as a redshirt freshman and became a full-time starter as a sophomore, establishing himself as one of Russell Wilson's top targets in 2011 - finally earned a scholarship prior to his junior year. Abbrederis' production dipped in 2012 due to poor quarterback play, but he set career-bests as a senior in catches (78) and receiving yards (1,081).
He isn't quick-twitch fast, but is a smooth, balanced athlete with gliding speed to be deceptively fast and stretch the field - former two-time state champion and state record holder in the 110-meter high hurdles in high school. Abbrederis is very detailed and does all the little things well with a great feel for his routes and savvy, veteran moves to keep defenders off balance. He displays good ballskills and extends and plucks well with strong hands. Abbrederis is very competitive and plays with a chip - defenders, coaches and fans will continue to underestimate him and he'll continue to impress and get more out of his ability than you think he will (that's all he knows).
He has the ability to be a No. 2 WR in the NFL, but projects best as an inside target where he can work the field and defenders - good value in the 3rd round.
